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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION directing the State Board of Edu-
  cation to undertake a study of school district organization and to render
  a blueprint for attainment of the optimal school district configuration.
  WHEREAS, The basic pattern for organization of school districts in
Kansas was established before admission of the territory into the Union
in 1861; by 1896, a total of 9,284 districts were being operated; and
  WHEREAS, A major step in the reorganization of school districts was
taken by the Legislature in 1945 by enactment of legislation requiring all
elementary districts to reorganize; the act was declared unconstitutional
in 1947; and
  WHEREAS, In 1957, the Legislature authorized a comprehensive ed-
ucational survey of the state which resulted in enactment of legislation
providing for statewide unification of school districts; the act was declared
unconstitutional in 1962; and
  WHEREAS, In 1963, the Legislature enacted legislation for the gen-
eral improvement of the public schools in the state and to expedite the
organization of public school districts of the state so as to establish a
thorough and uniform system of free public schools throughout the state;
the act was declared constitutional in 1965; and
  WHEREAS, Kansas society and the educational needs of Kansas chil-
dren have changed significantly since unification of school districts was
completed in 1969; and
  WHEREAS, The Kansas Constitution authorizes the State Board of
Education to perform such duties pertaining to the educational interests
of the state as may be imposed by the Legislature: Now, therefore,
  Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas,
the Senate concurring therein:  That the Legislature, in acknowledgment
of the fact that it has plenary power over the establishment, alteration,
disorganization, and reorganization of school districts, and in recognition
that any part of that power may be delegated to the State Board of Ed-
ucation, hereby directs the State Board to undertake a comprehensive
study of the organization of school districts in this state to determine if
the public school system could be more efficiently and effectively oper-
ated under a different configuration; and
  Be it further resolved:  That in making the study of school district
organization, the State Board of Education should: (a) Review grade level
and school district enrollment and projected enrollment, pupil travel
requirements including the distances pupils must travel to attend the
schools of a district and the proximity of schools in adjoining districts with
respect to pupils having lengthy bus commutes, the capacity and condition
of existing school facilities in each district, communities of interest in
matters such as commerce and tradition, property tax bases of districts,
and other matters deemed appropriate to the study; (b) determine and
document the existence of problems with respect to matters reviewed
and provide suggestions for solution or alleviation of such problems; (c)
envision a configuration of school districts that would serve the needs of
Kansas children, Kansas taxpayers, and Kansas society in the most effi-
cient and effective manner attainable and render a blueprint for attain-
ment of such optimal configuration; (d) formulate recommendations for
actualization of the blueprint for attainment of the optimal school district
configuration and for legislation deemed necessary for actualization of
the blueprint; and (e) present findings of the study, the blueprint for
attainment of the optimal school district configuration, and recommen-
dations with respect to actualization of the blueprint to the Chairperson
of the Committee on Education of the House of Representatives and the
Chairperson of the Committee on Education of the Senate on or before
December 15, 1997; and
  Be it further resolved:  That the State Board of Education is hereby
authorized to establish advisory committees and secure consultant serv-
ices for assistance in performing the duties imposed in the foregoing
resolving clause; and
  Be it further resolved:  That the Secretary of State is hereby directed
to transmit enrolled copies of this resolution to the State Board of Edu-
cation and to the Commissioner of Education at 120 S.E. 10th Avenue,
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1182.